persistence
Americannoun
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the act or fact of persisting.
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the quality of being persistent.
You have persistence, I'll say that for you.
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continued existence or occurrence.
the persistence of smallpox.
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the continuance of an effect after its cause is removed.
noun
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the quality of persisting; tenacity
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the act of persisting; continued effort or existence
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the continuance of an effect after the cause of it has stopped
persistence of vision
Related Words
See perseverance.
Other Word Forms
- nonpersistence noun
- nonpersistency noun
Etymology
Origin of persistence
Explanation
Persistence is the ability to stick with something. If you practice the violin for over a year in order to play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" perfectly, that's persistence! Persistence can also mean something that lasts for a very long time. The persistence of bullying, despite years of efforts by the school, has frustrated many parents. Bed bugs are known for their persistence. Despite near eradication in the 1950s, they are back and harder to eliminate than ever.
Vocabulary lists containing persistence
"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
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Where the Red Fern Grows
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "P"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"This development reinforces our belief that persistence, solidarity and commitment to justice will always yield results."
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
We cannot rely, however, only on the genius and persistence of dissidents.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
But "the persistence of threats to critical Iranian infrastructure keeps escalation risks elevated, with no credible de-escalation path in sight", Chan said.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
Third is the persistence of unusual experiences, such as near-death experiences, mystical states, or episodes of terminal lucidity, which do not fit neatly into existing scientific frameworks.
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026
The essence of oligarchical rule is not father-to-son inheritance, but the persistence of a certain world-view and a certain way of life, imposed by the dead upon the living.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
